NIH INFORMATION

 

Reminder – RNCP/NIAID New RFA

 NIH Information

  • Reaffirming NIH’s Commitment to Scientific Integrity. Ensuring that the research the NIH funds and conducts adheres to the highest standards of scientific integrity, public accountability, and transparency is essential to earning the public’s trust. As such, we are pleased to announce that NIH is reaffirming its commitment to these principles by publishing its Scientific Integrity Policy.
  • NIH Operates Under a Continuing Resolution (NOT-OD-25-010). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including National Institutes of Health (NIH), operates under Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law 118-83) signed by President Biden on September 26, 2024. This Act (CR) continues government operations through December 20, 2024, at the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 enacted level, with no reduction.
  • NIH Launches Grants & Funding Website Redesign. Last week, NIH completed a major overhaul of its Grants & Funding website. You can watch a video tour for a summary of key changes to the site’s organization and resources. 
  • Final Scientific Integrity Policy of the National Institutes of Health. (NOT-OD-24-178) Office of the Director, NIH. The purpose of this guide notice is to issue the Final NIH Scientific Integrity Policy to promote a continuing culture of scientific integrity at NIH. This Policy codifies NIH’s long-standing expectations to preserve scientific integrity throughout all NIH activities, establishes key roles and responsibilities for those who will lead the agency’s scientific integrity program, and, as appropriate, establishes relevant reporting and evaluation mechanisms. 
  • Create ORCID Account in Preparation for May 2025 Common Forms for Biosketch Transition. Investigators will soon be required to use Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (SciENcv) to complete Common forms.
  • How to determine where your application will be reviewed. If you know your application will go to a Center for Scientific Review study section, you can request assignment to the most appropriate one

New RNCP Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

 

POST CONFERENCE INFORMATION

 

  • ISSRDS Conference Highlights. Did you miss the International Space Station Research and Development Conference (ISSRDC) in Boston this year? No need to worry—view highlights of the agenda, speakers, and more on our conference website!

 

 

 

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

 

  • Development of Alternative Human Models of Radiation-Induced Injuries (Extracorporeal Systems) (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to support early to mid-stage research focused on development of alternative human models of acute and/or delayed radiation-induced injuries (extracorporeal systems) to elucidate mechanisms of injury and to test medical countermeasures to treat and/or mitigate these injuries. Due: February 06, 2025Limited Competition: Basic Instrumentation Grant (BIG) Program (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
     
  • Limited Competition: Basic Instrumentation Grant (BIG) Program (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). The Basic Instrumentation Grant (BIG) Program encourages applications from groups of NIH-supported investigators to purchase a single piece of new, costly, specialized, commercially available instrument or an integrated instrumentation system. The BIG Program is limited to institutions that have not received S10 instrumentation funding of $500,001 or greater in any of the preceding 3 Federal fiscal years. The minimum award is $25,000. There is no maximum price limit for the instrument; however, the maximum award is $350,000. Instruments supported include, but are not limited to, basic cell sorters, confocal microscopes, ultramicrotomes, gel imagers, or computer systems.

 

 

 

 

 

NCI Funding Opportunities in Cancer Research

 

  • Research Projects to Enhance Applicability of Mammalian Models for Translational Research (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). (PAR-24-306). National Cancer Institute. Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites applications for projects to expand, improve, or transform the utility of mammalian cancer and tumor models for translational research. The NCI, through this NOFO, encourages submission of projects devoted to demonstrating that mammalian models, including organoids, tumoroids and cell models, used for translational research are robust representations of human biology, are appropriate to test questions of clinical importance, and provide reliable information for patient benefit. These practical goals contrast with the goals of many mechanistic, NCI-supported R01 projects that use mammals, or develop and use mammalian cancer models, transplantation tumor models, or models derived from mammalian or human tissues or cells for hypothesis-testing, non-clinical research. Among many other possible endeavors, applicants in response to this NOFO could propose demonstrations of how to overcome translational deficiencies of mammalian oncology models, define new uses of mammalian models or their genetics for unexplored translational challenges, advance standard practices for use of translational models, test approaches to validate and credential models, or challenge current practices for how models are used translationally.

 

  • Molecular Imaging of Inflammation in Cancer (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). (PAR-24-311) National Cancer Institute. Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites research grant applications (R01) for the development and application of current and emerging molecular imaging methods to gain fundamental insights into cancer inflammation in vivo. The motivation for this initiative is the recognition that much of the current imaging research on inflammation in cancer relies heavily on in vitro and ex vivo methods. These approaches have limited potential to provide significant insights into the dynamic interactions between cancer and inflammation. Utilizing molecular imaging probes in pre-clinical and clinical investigations allows for precise temporal resolution at molecular and cellular levels. This information is valuable for identifying and characterizing in vivo inflammatory cellular physiology in cancer and for detecting molecular changes in response to treatment. This NOFO encourages applications focused on developing integrated imaging approaches to investigate the role of inflammation in cancer through strong cross-discipline collaboration between cancer basic science researchers and imaging scientists. These collaborations are expected to advance the science and understanding of cancer inflammation interactions.

 

Research civilian chemical medical countermeasures and novel treatment strategies to combat serious morbidity and mortality resulting from high consequence public health chemical emergencies.

 

 

 

NIH Conference Grant Support

 

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Conferences and Workshops

 

  • 2025 NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop (HRP IWS). You are cordially invited to submit an abstract for the 2025 NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop (HRP IWS) to be held at the Galveston Island Convention Center, from Tuesday, January 28 through Friday, January 31, 2025. 
  • International Society of Radiation Epidemiology and Dosimetry (ISORED). The call for abstracts opens on 4TH November 2024 for the 2ND hybrid meeting of ISORED: 9TH - 11TH September 2025 to be held at IARC, Lyon, France. Details can be found on the event website.
  • 8th International Symposium on the System of Radiological Protection. This meeting promises to deliver the freshest updates on System revisions, innovative research, and superior networking opportunities. Click the link to sign up for updates. And remember, early interest could lead to winning a free registration before we open in early 2025.
  • Innovations in Countermeasures & Toxicology Research (ICTR) Conference. June 9, 2025-June 11, 2025. Hosted by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Join us for a cooperative and collaborative conference among colleagues and subject matter experts from the forefront of medical countermeasure (MCM) discovery and development. Research scientists and product developers across disciplines of biology, chemistry, clinical and translational medicine, and drug development interested in developing therapeutics that can treat the toxic clinical signs and symptoms after exposure to hazardous materials are welcome. Toxidromes of interest include adverse effects on the eyes, skin, lungs, nervous system, and respiratory drive. Registration details and online abstract submission system to follow.

  • International Society of Radiation Epidemiology and Dosimetry (ISORED). The call for abstracts opens on 4th November 2024 for the 2nd hybrid meeting of ISORED: 9th - 11th September 2025 to be held at IARC, Lyon, France. Details can be found on the event website.
     

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION

Article: IEPA, a novel radiation countermeasure, alleviates acute radiation syndrome in rodents

 

Dr. Christie Orschell and colleagues researched whether or not IEPA (imidazolyl ethanamide pentandioic acid) is a promising development candidate as a medical countermeasure against the effects of acute radiation syndrome in rodents.

 

Wesolowski R, Fish BL, Eibl M, Bähr S, Munjal Mehta S, Czajkowski MT, Gasperetti T, Orschell CM, Asang C, Singh N, Himburg HA, Pleimes D. IEPA, a novel radiation countermeasure, alleviates acute radiation syndrome in rodents. Int J Radiat Biol. 2024 Nov 12:1-14. doi: 10.1080/09553002.2024.2425312. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39531584.

 

Read More: IEPA, a novel radiation countermeasure, alleviates acute radiation syndrome in rodents

 

 

 

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

 

  • Chief Scientist – Radiation Effects Research Foundation. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) seeks candidates for Chief Scientist at the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF) in Hiroshima, Japan. The Chief Scientist provides scientific leadership of the research programs at RERF in Hiroshima, Japan; leads database integration efforts; plans and conducts research and participates in research collaborations with other RERF scientists, and reports to internal and external audiences including at national and international scientific meetings.

  • Postdoctoral Research Associate - Radiation Oncology. Washington University School of Medicine. St. Louis, MO. Our lab is focused on improving the lives of patients with gynecologic cancers and other cancer types through basic and translational research. Our work involves basic protein and cell biology up to in vivo models and human specimens and trials. We have a particular expertise in radiation biology and gynecologic cancer models. This position is to serve as the scientific lead of a project with recent NIH grant funding to determine the role of the lysosome in response and resistance to ionizing radiation. Applicants with a strong background in molecular and cell biology, protein biochemistry and/or redox chemistry will be prioritized. Experience in radiation oncology/biology is not necessary and will be a component of training provided. The applicant will be an integral member of the lab who participates in training of other lab members including graduate students and undergraduates. 

 

OTHER NEWS

 

 

FDA News 

 

  • Zarxio for H-ARS. October 22, 2024: The FDA approved Zarxio (filgrastim-sndz) with an indication to increase survival of patients acutely exposed to myelosuppressive doses of radiation (Hematopoietic Syndrome of Acute Radiation Syndrome).  
  • Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop (HRP IPW). January 28-31, 2025. Galveston, TX. This meeting is the primary venue for reporting progress and results from HRP-funded research and technology tasks to Program Management, with the additional benefit of permitting cross-discipline interaction among the full spectrum of investigators. It also provides NASA with an outreach opportunity to include abstract submissions from other external researchers who would like to become involved.

 

 

NASA News

 

 

IAEA Ukraine Updates

 

  • Update 263 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine. Ukraine’s three operating NPPs have largely restored their electricity production after sharply reducing output last week as a precautionary step due to renewed attacks on the country’s increasingly fragile energy grid, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the IAEA said today.

 

  • Update 262 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine. Ukraine’s three operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) reduced their electricity generation this morning following renewed attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure that further endangered nuclear safety during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).